With an area 184 km2, the park is characterised by undulating
hills, marshland, deciduous forest cover and shallow lakes.

Classified as a Natural Park, its purpose is to preserve
areas that are representative of the Turtle Mountain Natural
Region; and accommodate a diversity of recreational opportunities
and resource uses.

Knowledge of Turtle Mountain's physical origin, was first
obtained during the exploratory expeditions of Palliser,
and of Dawson and Hind in the mid-19th century. They were
sent to assess travel routes and natural resources, in particular
near the 49th parallel. Several scientists were included
in these groups to collect information on plants and geology,
and to appraise the lands for cultivation and future settlement.
Their discoveries and recent core samples from experimental
drill holes, show that Turtle Mountain was shaped over several
hundred million years.

One of the deepest layers of rock consists of black shales
and limestone that were deposited during the Mississippian
Age, 240-265 million years ago, in a vast saltwater sea.
Plant and animal material settled to the bottom, decayed
and changed into oil. These sedimentary layers are found
in the southwestern corner of the province and are our only
known oil-producing formation. The next significant layer
above the oil-bearing rock are Cretaceous shales, deposited
60-130 million years ago. These shales form the basis of
the second prairie level that includes highlands like Porcupine,
Duck, Riding mountains, and the Pembina Hills.

Sandstones and shales above the Cretaceous layers are unique
in Manitoba. Formed within the last 60 million years, they
are our most recent bedrock formation.

One of these sandstones, known as the Boissevain Formation,
is visible in a few locations north of the mountain. At the
turn of the century, one outcrop south of Boissevain was
quarried and used as ornamental stone. The blocks were extensively
used for building in communities along PTH 3. Some of the
stone houses and churches are still standing and are still
being used. They are excellent examples of early Manitoba
architecture.

During one phase of the Tertiary sea, this area was characterized
by a vast swamp. Its lush vegetation consisted of huge ferns,
trees like ginkgo and fig, and the forerunners of our evergreens.
Large quantities of this vegetation accumulated and were
transformed into lignite in what is called the Turtle Mountain
Formation of sandstone.

When this sea finally withdrew, Turtle Mountain's core emerged
as part of a landform called the Missouri Coteau. Many millions
of years of erosion by wind, water and the effects of several
glacial advances separated the mountain from the remainder
of North America's third prairie level which is situated
about 80 km to the southwest.

What may be regarded as the last layer responsible for Turtle
Mountain is a mantle of glacial till deposited on the bedrock
at the end of the Ice Age about 15,000 years ago. The mantle
of clay, sand, gravel and boulders, is up to 122 m in depth.
Glacial Lake Souris formed north and west of the mountain
from meltwaters, and persisted for several thousand years.

The melting and disappearance of ice was not a sudden event.
Large quantities were buried and melted at a slower rate
than exposed ice. As the buried chunks melted, they caused
considerable shifting and collapse of the land above them.
Such irregular melting is credited with the mountain's present
topography-many hills and frequent water-filled depressions.

The Turtle Mountain region is the oldest inhabited part
of the province, since it was the first dry land that appeared
after the glacial period. Coniferous forests quickly became
established and waterfowl, mammoth and, perhaps, giant bison
attracted small groups of nomadic hunters. Little is known
about these people as no campsites have yet been discovered
in Manitoba for archaeological study. Only a handful of scattered
stone tools tell of their presence.

About 10,000 years ago the last of the glacial ice had melted
and local topography generally took on its present contours.
A major climatic change caused the replacement of the forests
with grasslands. Hunting and gathering began on the prairie,
and persisted well into the 19th century.

Today it is difficult to imagine how one type of animal
could be the life-source for a diversity of people for many
thousands of years. Yet this was the case for many of North
America's First Nations on the Great Plains. The buffalo
(bison) was a source of food, shelter, clothing, tools, utensils
and weapons. It was also prominent in religious ceremonies,
songs and legends. When fuelwood was scarce on the open prairie
the animal's droppings, known to explorers as "buffalo
chips" were used for campfires. For countless generations
winters ended when the warm, buffalo-scented winds from the
south and west announced the returning herds and the start
of spring.

In the early 19th century a new people of mixed Native and
European origin appeared on the prairie. The Métis,
who lived in the Red River settlement, were primarily buffalo
hunters. Between 1810 and 1870 they made annual hunting trips
into western Manitoba. As many as 2,500 men, women and children
made the journey in Red River carts for the big hunt.

In the later years, as the herds diminished, they made hunting
trips into Saskatchewan and Montana. Some of the hunters
wintered in Turtle Mountain rather than make a long journey
in the summer from Fort Garry. As the hunting way of life
disappeared, many Métis set up homesteads in this
area.

Although the 49th parallel was agreed upon as the boundary
between Canada and the USA much earlier, it wasn't until
1872-74 that the actual border was surveyed.

The work of locating the border, cutting the line and building
earthen mounds began in winter at Lake of the Woods. In spring,
the Canadian survey team moved westward in a train of ox-drawn
covered wagons. Along the way they established astronomical
stations to determine the latitude, and a series of supply
depots such as that on the east side of Turtle Mountain.
Depots were regularly supplied with food and equipment from
Fort Dufferin situated near the present town of Emerson.

Several members of the Boundary Commission Survey team were
photographers whose painstaking work resulted in a visual
record of this historic event. In addition, they captured
the dying days of the wild prairie. All that remained of
the life-giving buffalo herds in Manitoba were their scattered,
sunbleached bones. In 1874 the newly formed North-West Mounted
Police (NWMP) made their historic trek to the West, in the
footsteps of the surveyors, past Turtle Mountain.

Turtle Mountain's rolling hills are covered in a forest
of deciduous trees. The predominant tree, trembling aspen,
is interspersed with balsam poplar, green ash, birch, Manitoba
maple, elm and bur oak. Shrubs like hazel, chokecherry, saskatoon,
nannyberry, dogwood, highbush cranberry and pincherry are
found in the forest understory. Many of these, and wild plum
trees, provide fragrant blossoms in spring and the delicious
fruit throughout the summer months for berry pickers and
animals alike. Species of willow, including diamond willow,
are common in moist areas.

Fire played an important role in the development of present-day
vegetation. Prior to settlement, the mountain was periodically
swept by fire caused by lightning and people.

The worst recorded fires occurred in 1897 and 1903, probably
due to the increased human activity that accompanied settlement.
All of Ranges 20 and 21 in Township 1 were burned except
for the Oskar Lake area and the Max Lake islands. Eagle and
Arbor islands are the two living examples of mature deciduous
forest. Their dominant trees are ash, elm, oak and Manitoba
maple.

In 1911 a ranger headquarters was established on Turtle
Mountain and two major steps were taken to protect the forest.
Fireguard roads were ploughed to contain possible forest
fires, and livestock grazing was encouraged to eliminate
the fire hazard due to dry grass and thick shrub growth.
Max Lake was the scene of an annual fall round up. (The old
corral site was planted with white spruce in 1916.) Despite
these precautions a fire blown in from North Dakota in 1921
consumed a large portion of the forest. Today, fireguards
form a network of dry-weather roads which are used as snowmobile
trails in the winter. Turtle Mountain Provincial Park was
designated in 1961.

When Turtle Mountain Provincial Park is seen from the air,
it appears to be about one-third water and two-thirds forest.
The wetlands are generally shallow and their depths vary
from season to season. Their main source of fresh water is
precipitation, rain and snow, which is considerably more
than on the surrounding prairie. Natural drainage is very
poor due to the clay-like nature of the soil. It is not unusual
to find nearly adjacent ponds at different elevations.

Because the waters are shallow and contain little oxygen,
they are for the most part, unsuitable for fish populations.
Adam, Bower, Max and William lakes have been stocked periodically,
and they are the best known fishing spots on the mountain.
Adam and Bower lakes require aeration systems to enable the
fish to overwinter.

Both directly and indirectly, the ponds support a great
variety of wildlife. Shorelines of rushes and cattails provide
nesting sites for most species of ducks. In spring, amid
a chorus of frogs, nights reverberate with the calls of grebes
and loons. Birds like the great blue heron, black-crowned
night heron and the double-crested cormorant return to their
colonies of nests. The ponds provide food, shelter and breeding
grounds for painted turtles, salamanders, muskrat, beaver,
raccoon, mink and moose.

Nearly every open body of water has at least one beaver
lodge, and their dams are found wherever there is a semblance
of natural drainage. In this manner beaver play a vital role
in maintaining ponds and the wildlife that is dependent on
them. Beaver, however, were not always plentiful. In the
early part of this century there were no beaver on Turtle
Mountain, due largely to indiscriminate trapping. The absence
of these water engineers was felt in the 1930s when many
of the lakes dried up. Adam Lake was reduced to the size
of a small pond. Beaver were successfully reintroduced in
the 1940s. Their main food sources, willow and aspen, remain
plentiful.

Adam Lake campground, adjacent to PTH 10,
has electrical and unserviced sites. Showers are available
for campers and firewood is provided. Seasonal camping and
group camping are offered on the south side of the lake.

Max Lake campground offers unserviced sites
on a daily or seasonal basis. It is a quiet, out-of-the-way
campground on the park's largest lake.

Oskar Lake campsite, for hikers, cyclists
or canoeists, is a short distance off the Oskar Lake road.
James Lake cabin, one step up from camping, is available
for overnight stays. Book in advance through the Boissevain
office. Only registered hikers/skiers/canoeists may overnight.
However, other trail users may use it as shelter during the
day.

William Lake Provincial Park to the east,
offers unserviced and group campsites on the wooded shores
of William Lake. Showers are available and firewood is provided.

Camping at Adam Lake

Travel Manitoba

Swimming

For a cool dip on a hot summer's day or a sandy beach for
lying in the sun, take the family to Adam, Max or William
lakes. Please be cautious near the water as all beaches are
unsupervised. Never swim alone and be constantly watchful
of children.

Fishing

Turtle Mountain has some great fishing holes which have
produced master angler sized fish for many years. Stocked
waters at Bower Lake and William Lake are popular for brown
trout, rainbow trout and smallmouth bass. Adam Lake is good
for pike.

Bicycling

The park is a paradise for mountain bikers looking for long
rides, and for families looking for a shorter outing. Trails
starting at Adam Lake offer nicely rolling terrain for an
afternoon ride. The Oskar Lake, south boundary, Sharpe Lake
and west main roads form a loop of about 40 km for those
who want to take a longer ride in the backcountry.

Please note that cyclists must obey all traffic signs within
the park and should be aware of hikers, horseback riders
and motor vehicles on some trails. Backcountry roads are
not recommended when they are wet.

Hiking Trails

Adam Lake

The Adam Lake trails start in the campground and give hikers
a choice of four, nine, ten, and 15-km trails through the
quiet forests and past a myriad of lakes and potholes.

Turtle's Back

This trail starts at William Lake and is considered a bit
strenuous. It leads to one of the mountain's highest points
where a tower gives you the vantage for a breathtaking view.
Interpretive signs describe the migration of peoples across
the prairies that stretch out before you. Allow 2 h.

Adam Lake Fitness

This trail is good for a pleasant walk or for a real workout.
Starting at the Adam Lake beach, it takes you past exercise
stations as it winds along the lakeshore and past the campground.

Hiker on one of many trails

Self-guiding Trails

Disappearing Lakes

Interpretive signs along this short trail, off the Oskar
Lake road, describe the life of a Turtle Mountain lake and
how it eventually disappears. People often see moose, waterfowl,
beaver and other wildlife. Allow 1 h.

Starting in Adam Lake campground, this trail leads to a
viewing tower. A brochure available at the trailhead describes
how Turtle Mountain is a special place for wildlife. Bring
your camera and binoculars. Allow 45 min.

Horseback Riding

South of Adam Lake and off PTH 10, trails can give hours
of pleasant riding through gently rolling woodlands. There
are two short loops near Adam Lake, and a longer loop to
John Lake and the international border. These trails overlap
with the Adam Lake hiking trails in some areas, so hikers
and mountain bikers can be expected there.

Canoeing

Many lakes offer good opportunities for canoeing, especially
a quiet, afternoon paddle. Oskar, Max and James lakes, linked
by portages are the park's canoe route through the backcountry.
In times of high water it offers pleasant canoeing, however,
canoeists must watch for extensive mudflats when water levels
are low. Allow one overnight for a leisurely trip.

Exploring Eagle Island

In Winter

Turtle Mountain park is an excellent place to visit in winter.
Safe, well groomed cross-country ski trails at Adam Lake
make for a pleasant outing. The James Lake cabin can be booked
for an overnight trip in the great outdoors. Snowmobile trails,
starting at the north side of the park near PTH 10 will lead
you to explore the winter scenery in the west end of the
park. More family recreation is available at Adam Lake with
its toboggan slide and skating rinks.

Local Attractions

Immediately south of the park is the International Peace
Garden with exquisite flower displays, picnic sites, hiking
trails, monuments and the famous music and athletic camps.
Information on programs and services is available by writing
to: The Superintendent, Box 419, Boissevain, Manitoba, R0K
0E0.

Boissevain is the nearest service centre to the park offering
a full range of services and a spectacular display of outdoor
murals. In addition, the Beckoning Hills Museum and the Moncur
Gallery of Prehistory in the Civic Centre, offer interesting
displays.